8/19/66-Memphis, TN

As they say “out of the frying pan, and into the fire”. The most volatile stop of the tour, and right in the heart of the bible belt. The Beatles faced protests and death threats. Even the Memphis City Council considered cancelling the shows as they felt rather than having “municipal facilities be used as a forum to ridicule anyone’s religion.”

2 shows at the Mid South Coliseum. 4:00 PM and 8:30 PM

During the evening performance, someone threw a firecracker or cherry bomb up on stage when The Beatles were performing the George Harrison song “If I Needed Someone” 1:10 in.

Immediately the other three Beatles looked over at John to see if he had been shot. There’s an audio recording of both shows that have surfaced within the past few years and you can hear the explosion during the aforementioned song. Interestingly enough, The Beatles don’t miss a beat…